Side Hustle to Small Business

As a C-Suite Executive working over 60 hours a week and doing contract work on the side, Lindsay May found herself facing burnout. Looking for a change, Lindsay decided to fully commit to her marketing side gig. Now, she operates Happy Marketing Co., a thriving marketing agency. Within just four months of this transition, Lindsay not only achieved her revenue targets but also surpassed the salary she earned in her previous C-Suite role.

Sam Westfall had two different careers prior to starting his business: a tank mechanic in the military, and an IT Specialist. Now, Sam is combining those two experiences by starting Archery N Motion, an archery range and equipment supplier based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Archery N Motion specializes in moving target platforms, which give shooters the practice they need without wounding animals.

Join us as we explore the unique journeys of three passionate individuals who not only found joy in their hobbies but also managed to turn them into thriving businesses. John, the Founder of Unite Creative Company, helps organizations build connections through video production. Sam advocates for autism awareness with Autism Rocks and Rolls, a non-profit he founded when he was just 20 years old. Jonathan, the Founder of Botset Designs, elevates businesses through logo design, upgrading their branding.

Bryan Clayton has been working in lawn care since he was a teenager. As a way to get him out of the house, his dad encouraged him to cut neighbors’ lawns for some extra cash. Fast forward to a decade ago and Bryan co-founded the technology company GreenPal, an app that connects lawn care professionals to those who need the services at a click of a button. GreenPal is now an 8-figure business and Bryan only sees it growing from here.

Eleven years ago, Jaci Lund quit her job in PR knowing that she wanted to do something different, but with no idea what that was. Three months later, from her kitchen table, she started Treebird Branding, a branding firm “centered around human connection, and elevated through creativity”. Now, eleven years later, Jaci staffs ten employees and has worked with countless clients creating timeless designs and maintaining strong relationships.

Julie Marateck is many things: a freelance copywriter, a photographer, and even a public speaker. However, her true passion is stand-up comedy. Julie first joined the Atlanta stand-up scene six years ago, and she says that it has helped her not only become more confident in herself, but also helped her become a better copywriter and marketer. And while stand-up is not the most lucrative venture, Julie‘s love for the game keeps her going.

Nadia Liu Spellman grew up immersed in the restaurant industry. During the 1980s, her parents owned a thriving Chinese restaurant in Boston, attracting notable patrons such as Julia Child and Yo-Yo Ma. As an ode to her parents, she later established her own restaurant, Dumpling Daughter. Today, with three thriving locations across Boston, Nadia has become an accomplished entrepreneur who eats, sleeps, and breathes dumplings.

Growing up in a family business, Andy O’Brien learned that “the truck never unloads itself.” It took years for Andy to unlearn the do it all yourself mindset. In his current business, ActionCOACH of Central Texas, Andy incorporates new ideas daily. By outsourcing tasks that he doesn’t enjoy, setting clear communication boundaries among his family members, and making time for exercise, Andy is redefining how to do business as a family.

In this episode of Side Hustle to Small Business, we delve into the large and complex world of family businesses, exploring how two entrepreneurs navigate their family businesses, past and present, to ensure that the business is successful. We discuss the role of communication in resolving conflicts within the business and explore how shared values can be the driving force behind sustained success.

Abbey Griffith is the Owner of Clarity Fitness, Georgia’s first body-positive fitness centre. An Industrial Engineer by trade, Abbey decided to open Clarity after recovering from an eating disorder and seeing a lack of accessibility and inclusiveness in the fitness sector. According to Abbey, “there's a big opportunity in the fitness space to shift how we're addressing movement and shift how we're addressing our bodies.”